Steyning Downland Scheme Bird Survey

Twelve birders turned out today and we were able to cover all three areas.  The team that covered area 1 (Nightingale Lane and the Rifle Range) did best with 29 species including Water Rail, Bullfinch, Teal and Mistle Thrush.  I took a group up to Steyning Coombe and we had a quiet time of it, enlivened by the brief appearance of a Firecrest.  We heard two Great Spotted Woodpeckers drumming.  The third group headed up to the top woodland area and as so often had a long walk for a modest reward, recording just 13 species including Goldcrest.  But, altogether it was a good start to the year.